I do a good job of blocking painful, unnecessary things from my memory.

It was amazing how instantaneously the choking fear vanished, amazing how suddenly the feeling of security washed over me — even before I was off the street — as soon as I heard his voice.

I decided it didn’t matter.

I can’t explain it right… but he’s even more unbelievable behind the face.

As it happens, I don’t mind being alone with you.

I was mentally calculating my chances of reaching the truck before he could catch me. I had to admit, they weren’t good.

And then Edward stepped out from the trees, his skin faintly glowing, his eyes black and dangerous. He held up one hand and beckoned me to come to him. The wolf growled at my feet. I took a step forward, toward Edward. He smiled then, and his teeth were sharp, pointed.

He’d been flinging questions at me with such speed that I felt like I was taking one of those psychiatric tests where you answer with the first word that comes to mind.

No one could be still like Edward. He closed his eyes and became as immobile as stone, a carving under my hand.

For an instant, I felt a thrill of genuine fear, raising the hair on my arms. The look only lasted a second, but it chilled me more than the freezing wind.